Where Was “The Shawshank Redemption” Filmed?

Watched the movie and are now wondering: where was “The Shawshank Redemption” filmed? We’re going to take you on a trip to where the real Shawshank is and discover some of the most memorable filming locations.

And if you’re an aspiring creative or filmmaker, stick around till the end, when we’ll share a “Shawshank”-inspired filming location from Peerspace. They’re the best spot online to find filming locations and production studios available by the hour, and there’s something for just about everybody. So without further ado, let’s visit the real Shawshank State Penitentiary.

What is “The Shawshank Redemption”?

A modest success at the box office, “The Shawshank Redemption” went on to be a huge hit in the home media market, going on to be regarded as one of the best American movies of the 20th century.

Based on a story of the same name by Stephen King, the story follows a man named Andy Dufresne who is incarcerated in Shawshank Prison as he meets an assortment of characters along the way. The all-star cast features the talents of Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne and Morgan Freeman as his confidant and friend Ellis “Red” Redding.

Other than the quality of the writing, another aspect that keeps fans coming back to the movie is the authentic locations that transport viewers back to the late 1940s and 1950s. Seeing these locations and the historic look of Shawshank Prison is sure to beg the question: where was “The Shawshank Redemption” filmed?

Is The Shawshank State Penitentiary a real place?

Before we get around to answering the question “Where was ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ filmed?”, we first need to cover whether or not the Shawshank State Penitentiary is a real place.

Like many of Stephen King’s stories, “The Shawshank Redemption” takes place in the state of Maine and there is by all accounts no real prison called the Shawshank State Penitentiary. The prison has been featured or mentioned in several of Stephen King’s other works and can be seen in the recent television series “Castle Rock.”

So where did the filmmakers go to find the prison featured in the movie? According to an article by NPR, the actual Shawshank State Penitentiary can be found in Mansfield, Ohio, at the Ohio State Reformatory. The prison was closed in 1990, not long before the movie was made, and has several different architectural styles that made it an attractive option for the movie.

Some of the places from the movie that you might find if you visit the reformatory are the warden’s office, the showers, and the library, among others. The article describes how new life has been breathed into the Ohio State Reformatory in the subsequent years since the movie. People come from all over the world to see the locations from “The Shawshank Redemption” and use the prison for everything from ghost hunts to weddings.

Now that we know that the majority of the movie was filmed in Mansfield, Ohio, we can get into some of the specifics of answering the question “Where was ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ filmed?”

Notable Mansfield, Ohio filming locations

Besides the former Ohio State Reformatory, there are several other locations in the Mansfield, Ohio area that are crucial to discuss when you’re answering the question “Where was ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ filmed?”

We’re turning to Movie Locations for the scoop on some memorable spots, starting off in the beginning of the film with the house where Andy Dufresne’s wife and her golf-pro lover are murdered. It’s called the “Pugh Cabin” and can be found at Malabar Farm State Park. There’s plenty of other stuff to see and explore there, so definitely check it out if you’re in the area.

One thing you might hope to find nearby is the tree that Red travels to at the end of the movie. However, this was on private property and sadly the tree was struck by lightning back in 2011, so it is no longer there.

Next is the house where Andy’s elderly friend Brooks is paroled to and where he eventually ends up carving his name into the wooden beam that he hangs himself from. This can be found at the Bissman Building in Mansfield, a building that has a rich history in itself. It was built in the late 20th century and is also a well-known haunted location in the area, so if you’re into ghost tours this should definitely be one of your stops.

That covers it for Mansfield, but before we go we have a couple of other locations to check out.

Next, check out where “The Shining” was filmed!

Other notable “Shawshank” filming locations

Now that we’ve covered most of the locations in Mansfield, we can move on to some of the other scenes that were filmed nearby, or in the case of the scene at the end of the movie, very far away! Movie Locations has our answer for the gorgeous beach where Red is reunited with Andy at the end of the film – it can be found at the southernmost tip of St. Croix, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. This beach is very important to the island and is a hatching ground for sea turtles.

Last on our tour of “The Shawshank Redemption” filming locations is the bank where Andy steals all of the warden’s money. This can be found in the town of Ashland, Ohio, not far from the town of Mansfield, but is unfortunately currently closed so don’t expect to make your own withdrawal any time soon.

Now that you know where to get started, check out the Shawshank Trail, a helpful tool for any fan going to the Mansfield area to make their own “Shawshank Redemption” pilgrimage.

“The Shawshank Redemption”-inspired filming location

If you’re an aspiring filmmaker or creative looking to achieve your own “Shawshank” vibe, then look no further than Peerspace for all your filming location needs.

They’ve got tons of amazing and authentic locations, like this prison break set and escape room in nearby Columbus, Ohio. The spooky prison looks like the real deal and is even set up to appear like it’s from the 1950s, just like the movie.

Check out these six jail sets you can rent right here on Peerspace for more prison-break filming fun!

Find unique filming locations on Peerspace